Gafoor sold in pre-pack administration sale

Gafoor Poultry Products, one of the country’s largest halal meat suppliers, has been sold in a pre-pack administration sale, safeguarding around 150 jobs.

Administrator Gerald Irwin of Irwin Insolvency was appointed to handle Gafoor at the High Court in Birmingham on 31 July.

Irwin said the Preston-based company’s assets were sold to a new company, Gafoor Pure Halal, which is owned by a family member who also controlled the original company. Irwin said: “The business encountered some trading difficulties and also some bad debts. Sales had reduced in the last year as a consequence. The good news is that we have been able to preserve all 150 jobs on the site.”

Recent accounts filed by Gafoor in January for the year ending October 2010 showed profits of £1.4m and a turnover of more than £52.4m.

The poultry processor handles around 450,000 birds each week and supplies both the wholesale and retail sectors throughout the UK.